The holiday season is upon us. Like every year, a myriad of retailers, shops, and eateries signify this time by adding winter themed products and goods to their establishments. This week Starbucks faced major controversy with their holiday cup design. Since 1997, it has been a tradition for Starbucks to have winter- themed cups which have included snowflakes, snowmen, and ornaments. This year, Starbucks decided that the simple red ombre design would be the most appropriate for the holiday season.

Starbucks vice president of Design & Content, Jeffrey Fields said "In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs. This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories." Christians are in an uproar due to the plain design. This all started with former Pastor Joshua Feuerstein who posted a video claiming that Starbucks removed "Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus." Many Christians supported Feuerstein's video and took to social media to express their utter disappointment with the coffee company. However, Starbucks has never produced cups with Christian symbols and to think that this is some type of persecution is frankly absurd.

Others are expressing their views by hash tagging "It's just a cup" to show their opposition of this supposed war on Christmas. What ceases to amaze me is that people are forgetting what the holiday season is all about. It is about being thankful for what you have, reflecting on the good in life, giving to the less fortunate, and spreading goodwill and cheer. Do you think that a homeless family is worried about the design of a coffee cup? Or how about that disabled veteran who struggles to find his next meal? Even better, what about the thousands of children each winter that go without winter coats? Reality check: these things matter, a coffee cup doesn't. Shouting about a Starbucks cup is not helping anyone or anything.Instead of taking part of this nonsense, why not recognize things that actually matter? I promise, giving back is much more rewarding than taking a stance on a cup. In place of making ignorance go viral, here are 10 organizations to give back to and get involved with this holiday season.

1. Toys For Tots

http://www.toysfortots.org/

2. Coats For Kids Foundation

http://www.coats-for-kids.org/

3. Feeding America

http://www.feedingamerica.org/

4. Wounded Warrior Project

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

5. Family Promise

http://www.familypromise.org/

6. Worldwide Orphans Foundation

https://www.wwo.org/

7. National Organization on Disability

http://nod.org/

8. Doctors Without Borders

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

9. American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

10. American Red Cross

http://www.redcross.org/